Tank battle at Langannerie?

[John McGillivray]

The book “On the Battlefields” (Michael Benedict editor) contains a number of articles which were published in Maclean’s magazine, dealing with the two World Wars. One article by Lionel Shapiro is entitled “Tank Battle” and is dated 15 Sept. 1944. It starts as followers:

“SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE (BY CABLE)—It was growing toward dusk. A squadron of 15 tanks growled slowly into a shallow valley near the wood of Langannerie, in the heart of the German belt of fortifications guarding Falaise. The tanks were Canadian— Shermans—and they were moving gingerly as a flank patrol for General Simond's brilliant knifelike attack of Aug. 8 on the Caen "hinge" around which revolved the lifeline of all Field Marshal von Kluge's divisions in Normandy and Brittany.”

In Brian Reid’s book “No Holding Back” there are transcripts of conversations between German Generals von Kluge and Eberbach which took place during the night of 8/9th of August. At one point Eberbach states (p295):

“Enemy has pressed forward from Hautmesnil with very strong elements through Langannerie. I hope that we succeed in destroying the enemy during the night at Langannerie where he is not supposed to be so strong (12 tanks), and hold the line St. Sylvain-Bretteville.”

The question is who did the Shermans at Langannerie belong to? All of the maps of Totalize show that Langannerie was well behind the German front lines during the night of 8/9 Aug. Is there any other record of a flank patrol being conducted in that area? Also which unit did the Panthers, which the Canadians engaged, belong to?

[Waycool]

While 22 Cdn Armd Regt was undergoing this heavy counter-attack on the morning of 10 Aug, 21 Cdn Armd Regt (G.G.F.G.) dashed forward from Grainville- Langannerie to relieve the pressure on 22 Cdn Armd Regt on Hill 195 (W.D.,
H.Q. 4 Cdn Armd Bde, 10 Aug 44). Once on the objective the tanks quickly coordinated their plans with the infantry, and defensive depth was given by 28 Cdn Armd Regt (B.C.R.) whose sorry total of 12 tanks took up a reserve position in Langannerie. (W.D., 28 Cdn Armd Regt, 10 Aug 44). Lake Sup R.(Mot) remained in reserve though under heavy fire at Point 125.

Source:
R E P O R T NO. 169
HISTORICAL SECTION
CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS
5 Nov 48.
Canadian Participation in the Operations
in North-West Europe, 1944.
Part III: Canadian Operations, 1 - 23 August.

[Waycool]

In the early afternoon Maj-Gen Kitching ordered 10 Cdn Inf Bde to clear the adjoining areas of Langannerie and Grainville-Langannerie and in order to avoid confusion placed Lake Sup R. (Mot), who were still fighting in Bretteville-le-Rabet, under command of Brigadier Jefferson. Meanwhile, 4 Cdn Armd Bde was to continue its efforts to reach Point 195. (W.Ds., G.S., H.Q. 4 Cdn Armd Div, 9 Aug 44).


On receipt of these orders, Linc & Welld R. were passed through the positions of A. & S.H. of C. south of the Hautmesnil Quarry, and flung against Langannerie. Supported by the tanks of S. Alta R., two companies advanced at 1415 hours and got into the town, although on the right the attackers met stiff resistance. The two reserve companies were committed as soon as the church was reached and fierce house-to-house fighting raged. (W.D., 29 Cdn Armd Recce Regt, 9 Aug 44).

12 tanks would seem to be the exact number that the entry about the BCR noted Aug. 10th

Same source.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by John McGillivray
Also which unit did the Panthers, which the Canadians engaged, belong to?

I/25th SS Pz Regt (12th SS Pz Div)

[John McGillivray]

Thanks for the answers, Michael and Mark, however…

The flank patrol which I am referring to, occurred late on the 8th of August, and not on the 10th; as stated in both the Shapiro article and in the von Kluge/Eberbach conversations. Hubert Mayer’s history of 12th SS also contains the same von Kluge/Eberbach transcripts, and places the time as being 23:30 on August 8th.

Shapiro appears to be pointing towards the 1st Hussars. The first part of the article deals with the tank battle which involved a Canadian tank sqn and approximately a company of Panthers. The battle started just before nightfall on 8th Aug. and ended soon after first light the following morning. The result was six Panthers KOed with “…two (Canadian) tanks holed but recoverable; two men killed, two wounded.”

The second part of the article deals with armoured warfare in general. At one point he states:

“Until then, men like Capt. Joseph Fuger, Pointe Claire, Que.; Lieut. G. K. Henry, Montreal; and Cpl. Henry Beverley, Winnipeg —expert tank warriors of the Normandy battle—will continue to fight their Shermans within careful rules dictated by bitter experience.”

I could not find any references to Capt. Fuger, but both Lt Henry and Cpl Beverley are members of the 1st Hussars.